Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces are home to about 500 pagodas, including many fabulous Khmer pagodas. The sanctuary of southern pagodas commonly face east because the Khmer believe Buddist made a west-east pilgrimage.
Cultural characters from Khmer tradition are visible throughout the sanctuary, depicted in splendid and glorious decorations deeply imprinted by Brahmanism and Indian culture, especially the dome engraved the image of Angkor Wat.
Many paintings are displayed inside the walls of the sanctuary detailing the life of Gautama Buddha from his birthday to death. Engrave on the structure’s pillars is the image of the sacred five-head snake of Naga, used as candlesticks during festivals.
Pagodas are very significant in the cultural life of the Khmer people. “Pagodas and monks are spiritual pillars, so that all festivals are held in pagodas, featuring Buddhist characters. Men are educated and raised in a Buddhist environment before entering their own lives as grown-ups. When a Khmer dies, he will be cremated and the ash will be sent into pagodas,” said Venerable Kim Ren, Abbot of Doi Pagoda.
The Khmer people believe that their contributions to pagodas will protect their lives and lives after death. They exert great effort and inventiveness in building pagodas, making them centres of their villages, where moral virtues are practiced and religious, cultural activities are held.
In Khmer villages, there is a contrast between simple houses and magnificent pagodas.
Among 100 pagodas in Soc Trang province, Khleang Pagoda is the most ancient, built in the 16th century. The pagoda’s sanctuary has a 6.8 metre-high Buddhist statue molded in 1916.
Numerous household objects in old Khmer families are also displayed in Khleang Pagoda, preserving and promoting the old Khmer cultural features. The pagoda was recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism as a national cultural and historical site.
Doi (Bat) pagoda, whose official Khmer name is ‘Seray Techo Mahatup’ and ‘Ma Toc’ in Vietnamese, was built in 1596. The monument is known as Doi pagoda because it is home to tens of thousands of bats which are believed to have appeared at the pagoda 200 years ago. The creatures can be found hanging off the branches in the backyard of the pagoda for most of the day, only leaving their resting places to find food at dusk and return home early the next morning. It is uncanny that they fly far away from the pagoda to across the Tien and Hau rivers to feed themselves but they have never been observed eating any ripe fruit at the pagoda.
Doi pagoda is famous not only because of its nocturnal residents, but also for its beautiful architecture. The two-tiered roof of the pagoda is decorated with coloured tiles and adorned with sculptures in the shape of Naga, a divine snake from Khmer cultural tradition, with masterful skills. Each pillar supporting the pagoda features a nymph named Kemnar, clasping her hands to welcome visitors. The sanctuary of the pagoda is devoted to a two-metre tall stone statue featuring Buddha Shakyamuni sitting atop a lotus pedestal.
“I spent nine years of my childhood at Can Duoc pagoda in My Xuyen district, Soc Trang province on reading the Buddha sutra and self-learning and teaching Paly language to children in the locality. It was the most beautiful time of my life,” said People’s Teacher Lam Es, Chairman of the Soc Trang provincial Study Encouragement Association.
